Methods for flexible resource usage

ABSTRACT

A method and system for flexible resource control for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. The WTRU may monitor a first control channel region and receive a first control channel transmission in the first control region indicating boundaries of a plurality of numerology blocks of a carrier. The WTRU may then receive a second control channel transmission in a second control channel of a second control region, wherein the second control channel transmission indicates one or more numerology parameters for at least one of the plurality of numerology blocks. The WTRU may then transmit or receive data based on the one or more numerology parameters of the one or more numerology blocks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application62/373,089 filed on Aug. 10, 2016 and provisional application 62/400,950filed on Sep. 28, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

In mobile communication, there are generational advancements in wirelesstechnologies. For instance, in 1980 the first generation of wirelesstechnology was established. By the late 1980s, a second generationfollowed. This pattern, albeit at varying paces of development,continues. Some generations of technology have been retired, whileothers are still being developed concurrently with other generations.All generations of wireless technology require standards, protocols,hardware, and other related developments. With each new generation,these same concerns must be addressed.

SUMMARY

A method and system for flexible resource control for a wirelesstransmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. The WTRU may monitor a firstcontrol channel region and receive a first control channel transmissionin the first control region indicating boundaries of a plurality ofnumerology blocks of a carrier. The WTRU may then receive a secondcontrol channel transmission in a second control channel of a secondcontrol region, wherein the second control channel transmissionindicates one or more numerology parameters for at least one of theplurality of numerology blocks. The WTRU may then send or receive databased on the one or more numerology parameters of the one or morenumerology blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description,given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference numerals in the figures indicate like elements,and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a system diagram illustrating an example communicationssystem in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 1B is a system diagram illustrating an example wirelesstransmit/receive unit (WTRU) that may be used within the communicationssystem illustrated in FIG. 1A according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1C is a system diagram illustrating an example radio access network(RAN) and an example core network (CN) that may be used within thecommunications system illustrated in FIG. 1A according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1D is a system diagram illustrating a further example RAN and afurther example CN that may be used within the communications systemillustrated in FIG. 1A according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of transmission bandwidths;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of flexible spectrum allocation;

FIG. 4 is a graph of an example showing non-adjacent slots/subframesensuring slot/subframe synchronization between different numerologyblocks;

FIG. 5A is a graph of an example showing two-step configuration ofnumerology blocks;

FIG. 5B is a flow chart of an example process according to an embodimentdiscussed herein;

FIG. 5C is a flow diagram of an example process according to anembodiment discussed herein;

FIG. 6A is a diagram of an example system for receiving signalsaccording to one or more numerologies;

FIG. 6B is a diagram of an example system for transmitting signalsaccording to one or more numerologies;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of mapping over multiplenumerologies; and

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of repetition of RS in time orfrequency for orthogonalization of RS from different TRPs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example communications system 100in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. Thecommunications system 100 may be a multiple access system that providescontent, such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc., tomultiple wireless users. The communications system 100 may enablemultiple wireless users to access such content through the sharing ofsystem resources, including wireless bandwidth. For example, thecommunications systems 100 may employ one or more channel accessmethods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), zero-tailunique-word discrete Fourier transform Spread OFDM (ZT UW DTS-s OFDM),unique word OFDM (UW-OFDM), resource block-filtered OFDM, filter bankmulticarrier (FBMC), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the communications system 100 may include wirelesstransmit/receive units (WTRUs) 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, a RAN104/113, a CN 106/115, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 108,the Internet 110, and other networks 112, though it will be appreciatedthat the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number of WTRUs, basestations, networks, and/or network elements. Each of the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, 102 d may be any type of device configured to operateand/or communicate in a wireless environment. By way of example, theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, any of which may be referred to as a“station” and/or a “STA”, may be configured to transmit and/or receivewireless signals and may include a user equipment (UE), a mobilestation, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a subscription-based unit, apager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), asmartphone, a laptop, a netbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor,a hotspot or Mi-Fi device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a watchor other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, amedical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrialdevice and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devicesoperating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chaincontexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating oncommercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. Any of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d may be interchangeably referred toas a UE.

The communications systems 100 may also include a base station 114 aand/or a base station 114 b. Each of the base stations 114 a, 114 b maybe any type of device configured to wirelessly interface with at leastone of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d to facilitate access to oneor more communication networks, such as the CN 106/115, the Internet110, and/or the other networks 112. By way of example, the base stations114 a, 114 b may be a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node-B, an eNodeB, a Home Node B, a Home eNode B, a next generation (gNB), a new radio(NR) NodeB, a site controller, an access point (AP), a wireless router,and the like. While the base stations 114 a, 114 b are each depicted asa single element, it will be appreciated that the base stations 114 a,114 b may include any number of interconnected base stations and/ornetwork elements.

The base station 114 a may be part of the RAN 104/113, which may alsoinclude other base stations and/or network elements (not shown), such asa base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), relaynodes, etc. The base station 114 a and/or the base station 114 b may beconfigured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals on one or morecarrier frequencies, which may be referred to as a cell (not shown).These frequencies may be in licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or acombination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A cell may providecoverage for a wireless service to a specific geographical area that maybe relatively fixed or that may change over time. The cell may furtherbe divided into cell sectors. For example, the cell associated with thebase station 114 a may be divided into three sectors. Thus, in oneembodiment, the base station 114 a may include three transceivers, i.e.,one for each sector of the cell. In an embodiment, the base station 114a may employ multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) technology and mayutilize multiple transceivers for each sector of the cell. For example,beamforming may be used to transmit and/or receive signals in desiredspatial directions.

The base stations 114 a, 114 b may communicate with one or more of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d over an air interface 116, which may beany suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF),microwave, centimeter wave, micrometer wave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet(UV), visible light, etc.). The air interface 116 may be establishedusing any suitable radio access technology (RAT).

More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may bea multiple access system and may employ one or more channel accessschemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and the like. Forexample, the base station 114 a in the RAN 104/113 and the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), whichmay establish the air interface 115/116 using wideband CDMA (WCDMA).WCDMA may include communication protocols such as High-Speed PacketAccess (HSPA) and/or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High-SpeedDownlink (DL) Packet Access (HSDPA) and/or High-Speed Uplink (UL) PacketAccess (HSUPA).

In an embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTS TerrestrialRadio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface 116 usingLong Term Evolution (LTE) and/or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and/orLTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro).

In an embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as NR Radio Access, which mayestablish the air interface 116 using NR.

In an embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c may implement multiple radio access technologies. For example, thebase station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may implement LTEradio access and NR radio access together, for instance using dualconnectivity (DC) principles. Thus, the air interface utilized by WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c may be characterized by multiple types of radioaccess technologies and/or transmissions sent to/from multiple types ofbase stations (e.g., an eNB and a gNB).

In other embodiments, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (i.e.,Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1×, CDMA2000 EvolutionData Only/Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO), Interim Standard 2000(IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856),Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates forGSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), and the like.

The base station 114 b in FIG. 1A may be a wireless router, Home Node B,Home eNode B, or access point, for example, and may utilize any suitableRAT for facilitating wireless connectivity in a localized area, such asa place of business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, an industrialfacility, an air corridor (e.g., for use by drones), a roadway, and thelike. In one embodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish awireless local area network (WLAN). In an embodiment, the base station114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d may implement a radio technology suchas IEEE 802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Inyet another embodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102d may utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE,LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR etc.) to establish a picocell or femtocell. Asshown in FIG. 1A, the base station 114 b may have a direct connection tothe Internet 110. Thus, the base station 114 b may not be required toaccess the Internet 110 via the CN 106/115.

The RAN 104/113 may be in communication with the CN 106/115, which maybe any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications,and/or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services to one or more ofthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d. The data may have varying qualityof service (QoS) requirements, such as differing throughputrequirements, latency requirements, error tolerance requirements,reliability requirements, data throughput requirements, mobilityrequirements, and the like. The CN 106/115 may provide call control,billing services, mobile location-based services, pre-paid calling,Internet connectivity, video distribution, etc., and/or performhigh-level security functions, such as user authentication. Although notshown in FIG. 1A, it will be appreciated that the RAN 104/113 and/or theCN 106/115 may be in direct or indirect communication with other RANsthat employ the same RAT as the RAN 104/113 or a different RAT. Forexample, in addition to being connected to the RAN 104/113, which may beutilizing a NR radio technology, the CN 106/115 may also be incommunication with another RAN (not shown) employing a GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000, WiMAX, E-UTRA, or WiFi radio technology.

The CN 106/115 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c, 102 d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and/or the othernetworks 112. The PSTN 108 may include circuit-switched telephonenetworks that provide plain old telephone service (POTS). The Internet110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks anddevices that use common communication protocols, such as thetransmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP) and/orthe internet protocol (IP) in the TCP/IP internet protocol suite. Thenetworks 112 may include wired and/or wireless communications networksowned and/or operated by other service providers. For example, thenetworks 112 may include another CN connected to one or more RANs, whichmay employ the same RAT as the RAN 104/113 or a different RAT.

Some or all of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d in thecommunications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities (e.g., theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may include multiple transceivers forcommunicating with different wireless networks over different wirelesslinks). For example, the WTRU 102 c shown in FIG. 1A may be configuredto communicate with the base station 114 a, which may employ acellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114 b, whichmay employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

FIG. 1B is a system diagram illustrating an example WTRU 102. As shownin FIG. 1B, the WTRU 102 may include a processor 118, a transceiver 120,a transmit/receive element 122, a speaker/microphone 124, a keypad 126,a display/touchpad 128, non-removable memory 130, removable memory 132,a power source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136,and/or other peripherals 138, among others. It will be appreciated thatthe WTRU 102 may include any sub-combination of the foregoing elementswhile remaining consistent with an embodiment.

The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purposeprocessor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in associationwith a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine,and the like. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, dataprocessing, power control, input/output processing, and/or any otherfunctionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wirelessenvironment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120,which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element 122. While FIG. 1Bdepicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separatecomponents, it will be appreciated that the processor 118 and thetransceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic package orchip.

The transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signalsto, or receive signals from, a base station (e.g., the base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, thetransmit/receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmitand/or receive RF signals. In an embodiment, the transmit/receiveelement 122 may be an emitter/detector configured to transmit and/orreceive IR, UV, or visible light signals, for example. In yet anotherembodiment, the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured totransmit and/or receive both RF and light signals. It will beappreciated that the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured totransmit and/or receive any combination of wireless signals.

Although the transmit/receive element 122 is depicted in FIG. 1B as asingle element, the WTRU 102 may include any number of transmit/receiveelements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 may employ MIMOtechnology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include two ormore transmit/receive elements 122 (e.g., multiple antennas) fortransmitting and receiving wireless signals over the air interface 116.

The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate the signals that areto be transmitted by the transmit/receive element 122 and to demodulatethe signals that are received by the transmit/receive element 122. Asnoted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. Thus, thetransceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers for enabling the WTRU102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as NR and IEEE 802.11, forexample.

The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to, and may receiveuser input data from, the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad 126, and/orthe display/touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) displayunit or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit). The processor118 may also output user data to the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad126, and/or the display/touchpad 128. In addition, the processor 118 mayaccess information from, and store data in, any type of suitable memory,such as the non-removable memory 130 and/or the removable memory 132.The non-removable memory 130 may include random-access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storagedevice. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card,and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may accessinformation from, and store data in, memory that is not physicallylocated on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (notshown).

The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and maybe configured to distribute and/or control the power to the othercomponents in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitabledevice for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 mayinclude one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd),nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion),etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which maybe configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude andlatitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In additionto, or in lieu of, the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU102 may receive location information over the air interface 116 from abase station (e.g., base stations 114 a, 114 b) and/or determine itslocation based on the timing of the signals being received from two ormore nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 mayacquire location information by way of any suitablelocation-determination method while remaining consistent with anembodiment.

The processor 118 may further be coupled to other peripherals 138, whichmay include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provideadditional features, functionality and/or wired or wirelessconnectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include anaccelerometer, an e-compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera(for photographs and/or video), a universal serial bus (USB) port, avibration device, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, aBluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digitalmusic player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internetbrowser, a Virtual Reality and/or Augmented Reality (VR/AR) device, anactivity tracker, and the like. The peripherals 138 may include one ormore sensors, the sensors may be one or more of a gyroscope, anaccelerometer, a hall effect sensor, a magnetometer, an orientationsensor, a proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a time sensor; ageolocation sensor; an altimeter, a light sensor, a touch sensor, amagnetometer, a barometer, a gesture sensor, a biometric sensor, and/ora humidity sensor.

The WTRU 102 may include a full duplex radio for which transmission andreception of some or all of the signals (e.g., associated withparticular subframes for both the UL (e.g., for transmission) anddownlink (e.g., for reception) may be concurrent and/or simultaneous.The full duplex radio may include an interference management unit 139 toreduce and or substantially eliminate self-interference via eitherhardware (e.g., a choke) or signal processing via a processor (e.g., aseparate processor (not shown) or via processor 118). In an embodiment,the WTRU 102 may include a half-duplex radio for which transmission andreception of some or all of the signals (e.g., associated withparticular subframes for either the UL (e.g., for transmission) or thedownlink (e.g., for reception)).

FIG. 1C is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 104 and the CN 106according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ anE-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communicationwith the CN 106.

The RAN 104 may include eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c, though it will beappreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNode-Bs whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c over the air interface 116. In one embodiment,the eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c may implement MIMO technology. Thus,the eNode-B 160 a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmitwireless signals to, and/or receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102a.

Each of the eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c may be associated with aparticular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radioresource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of usersin the UL and/or DL, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1C, the eNode-Bs 160a, 160 b, 160 c may communicate with one another over an X2 interface.

The CN 106 shown in FIG. 1C may include a mobility management entity(MME) 162, a serving gateway (SGW) 164, and a packet data network (PDN)gateway (or PGW) 166. While each of the foregoing elements is depictedas part of the CN 106, it will be appreciated that any of these elementsmay be owned and/or operated by an entity other than the CN operator.

The MME 162 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 162 a, 162 b, 162 cin the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may serve as a control node. Forexample, the MME 162 may be responsible for authenticating users of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, bearer activation/deactivation, selecting aparticular serving gateway during an initial attach of the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, and the like. The MME 162 may provide a control planefunction for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown)that employ other radio technologies, such as GSM and/or WCDMA.

The SGW 164 may be connected to each of the eNode Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 cin the RAN 104 via the S1 interface. The SGW 164 may generally route andforward user data packets to/from the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c. The SGW164 may perform other functions, such as anchoring user planes duringinter-eNode B handovers, triggering paging when DL data is available forthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, managing and storing contexts of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, and the like.

The SGW 164 may be connected to the PGW 166, which may provide the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to packet-switched networks, such as theInternet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c and IP-enabled devices.

The CN 106 may facilitate communications with other networks. Forexample, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c withaccess to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, to facilitatecommunications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and traditionalland-line communications devices. For example, the CN 106 may include,or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem(IMS) server) that serves as an interface between the CN 106 and thePSTN 108. In addition, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c with access to the other networks 112, which may include otherwired and/or wireless networks that are owned and/or operated by otherservice providers.

Although the WTRU is described in FIGS. 1A-1D as a wireless terminal, itis contemplated that in certain representative embodiments that such aterminal may use (e.g., temporarily or permanently) wired communicationinterfaces with the communication network.

In representative embodiments, the other network 112 may be a WLAN.

A WLAN in Infrastructure Basic Service Set (BSS) mode may have an AccessPoint (AP) for the BSS and one or more stations (STAs) associated withthe AP. The AP may have an access or an interface to a DistributionSystem (DS) or another type of wired/wireless network that carriestraffic in to and/or out of the BSS. Traffic to STAs that originatesfrom outside the BSS may arrive through the AP and may be delivered tothe STAs. Traffic originating from STAs to destinations outside the BSSmay be sent to the AP to be delivered to respective destinations.Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be sent through the AP, forexample, where the source STA may send traffic to the AP and the AP maydeliver the traffic to the destination STA. The traffic between STAswithin a BSS may be considered and/or referred to as peer-to-peertraffic. The peer-to-peer traffic may be sent between (e.g., directlybetween) the source and destination STAs with a direct link setup (DLS).In certain representative embodiments, the DLS may use an 802.11e DLS oran 802.11z tunneled DLS (TDLS). A WLAN using an Independent BSS (IBSS)mode may not have an AP, and the STAs (e.g., all of the STAs) within orusing the IBSS may communicate directly with each other. The IBSS modeof communication may sometimes be referred to herein as an “ad-hoc” modeof communication.

When using the 802.11ac infrastructure mode of operation or a similarmode of operations, the AP may transmit a beacon on a fixed channel,such as a primary channel. The primary channel may be a fixed width(e.g., 20 MHz wide bandwidth) or a dynamically set width via signaling.The primary channel may be the operating channel of the BSS and may beused by the STAs to establish a connection with the AP. In certainrepresentative embodiments, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with CollisionAvoidance (CSMA/CA) may be implemented, for example in 802.11 systems.For CSMA/CA, the STAs (e.g., every STA), including the AP, may sense theprimary channel. If the primary channel is sensed/detected and/ordetermined to be busy by a particular STA, the particular STA may backoff. One STA (e.g., only one station) may transmit at any given time ina given BSS.

High Throughput (HT) STAs may use a 40 MHz wide channel forcommunication, for example, via a combination of the primary 20 MHzchannel with an adjacent or nonadjacent 20 MHz channel to form a 40 MHzwide channel.

Very High Throughput (VHT) STAs may support 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz,and/or 160 MHz wide channels. The 40 MHz, and/or 80 MHz, channels may beformed by combining contiguous 20 MHz channels. A 160 MHz channel may beformed by combining 8 contiguous 20 MHz channels, or by combining twonon-contiguous 80 MHz channels, which may be referred to as an 80+80configuration. For the 80+80 configuration, the data, after channelencoding, may be passed through a segment parser that may divide thedata into two streams. Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) processing,and time domain processing, may be done on each stream separately. Thestreams may be mapped on to the two 80 MHz channels, and the data may betransmitted by a transmitting STA. At the receiver of the receiving STA,the above described operation for the 80+80 configuration may bereversed, and the combined data may be sent to the Medium Access Control(MAC).

Sub 1 GHz modes of operation are supported by 802.11af and 802.11ah. Thechannel operating bandwidths, and carriers, are reduced in 802.11af and802.11ah relative to those used in 802.11n, and 802.11ac. 802.11afsupports 5 MHz, 10 MHz, and 20 MHz bandwidths in the TV White Space(TVWS) spectrum, and 802.11ah supports 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and16 MHz bandwidths using non-TVWS spectrum. According to a representativeembodiment, 802.11ah may support Meter Type Control/Machine-TypeCommunications, such as MTC devices in a macro coverage area. MTCdevices may have certain capabilities, for example, limited capabilitiesincluding support for (e.g., only support for) certain and/or limitedbandwidths. The MTC devices may include a battery with a battery lifeabove a threshold (e.g., to maintain a very long battery life).

WLAN systems, which may support multiple channels, and channelbandwidths, such as 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11af, and 802.11ah, include achannel which may be designated as the primary channel. The primarychannel may have a bandwidth equal to the largest common operatingbandwidth supported by all STAs in the BSS. The bandwidth of the primarychannel may be set and/or limited by a STA, from among all STAs inoperating in a BSS, which supports the smallest bandwidth operatingmode. In the example of 802.11ah, the primary channel may be 1 MHz widefor STAs (e.g., MTC type devices) that support (e.g., only support) a 1MHz mode, even if the AP, and other STAs in the BSS support 2 MHz, 4MHz, 8 MHz, 16 MHz, and/or other channel bandwidth operating modes.Carrier sensing and/or Network Allocation Vector (NAV) settings maydepend on the status of the primary channel. If the primary channel isbusy, for example, due to a STA (which supports only a 1 MHz operatingmode), transmitting to the AP, the entire available frequency bands maybe considered busy even though a majority of the frequency bands remainidle and may be available.

In the United States, the available frequency bands, which may be usedby 802.11ah, are from 902 MHz to 928 MHz. In Korea, the availablefrequency bands are from 917.5 MHz to 923.5 MHz. In Japan, the availablefrequency bands are from 916.5 MHz to 927.5 MHz. The total bandwidthavailable for 802.11ah is 6 MHz to 26 MHz depending on the country code.

FIG. 1D is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 113 and the CN 115according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 113 may employ an NRradio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c overthe air interface 116. The RAN 113 may also be in communication with theCN 115.

The RAN 113 may include gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c, though it will beappreciated that the RAN 113 may include any number of gNBs whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 cmay each include one or more transceivers for communicating with theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c over the air interface 116. In one embodiment,the gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c may implement MIMO technology. For example,gNBs 180 a, 108 b may utilize beamforming to transmit signals to and/orreceive signals from the gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c. Thus, the gNB 180 a,for example, may use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to,and/or receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102 a. In an embodiment,the gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c may implement carrier aggregationtechnology. For example, the gNB 180 a may transmit multiple componentcarriers to the WTRU 102 a (not shown). A subset of these componentcarriers may be on unlicensed spectrum while the remaining componentcarriers may be on licensed spectrum. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180 a,180 b, 180 c may implement Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) technology.For example, WTRU 102 a may receive coordinated transmissions from gNB180 a and gNB 180 b (and/or gNB 180 c).

The WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may communicate with gNBs 180 a, 180 b,180 c using transmissions associated with a scalable numerology. Forexample, the OFDM symbol spacing and/or OFDM subcarrier spacing may varyfor different transmissions, different cells, and/or different portionsof the wireless transmission spectrum. The WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c maycommunicate with gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c using subframe or transmissiontime intervals (TTIs) of various or scalable lengths (e.g., containing avarying number of OFDM symbols and/or lasting varying lengths ofabsolute time).

The gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c may be configured to communicate with theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c in a standalone configuration and/or anon-standalone configuration. In the standalone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102 b, 102 c may communicate with gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c withoutalso accessing other RANs (e.g., such as eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c).In the standalone configuration, WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may utilizeone or more of gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c as a mobility anchor point. Inthe standalone configuration, WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may communicatewith gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c using signals in an unlicensed band. In anon-standalone configuration WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may communicatewith/connect to gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c while also communicatingwith/connecting to another RAN such as eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c. Forexample, WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may implement DC principles tocommunicate with one or more gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c and one or moreeNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c substantially simultaneously. In thenon-standalone configuration, eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c may serve asa mobility anchor for WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and gNBs 180 a, 180 b,180 c may provide additional coverage and/or throughput for servicingWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c.

Each of the gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c may be associated with a particularcell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resourcemanagement decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of users in the ULand/or DL, support of network slicing, dual connectivity, interworkingbetween NR and E-UTRA, routing of user plane data towards User PlaneFunction (UPF) 184 a, 184 b, routing of control plane informationtowards Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 182 a, 182 b andthe like. As shown in FIG. 1D, the gNBs 180 a, 180 b, 180 c maycommunicate with one another over an Xn interface.

The CN 115 shown in FIG. 1D may include at least one AMF 182 a, 182 b,at least one UPF 184 a,184 b, at least one Session Management Function(SMF) 183 a, 183 b, and possibly a Data Network (DN) 185 a, 185 b. Whileeach of the foregoing elements is depicted as part of the CN 115, itwill be appreciated that any of these elements may be owned and/oroperated by an entity other than the CN operator.

The AMF 182 a, 182 b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180 a,180 b, 180 c in the RAN 113 via an N2 interface and may serve as acontrol node. For example, the AMF 182 a, 182 b may be responsible forauthenticating users of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, support fornetwork slicing (e.g., handling of different PDU sessions with differentrequirements), selecting a particular SMF 183 a, 183 b, management ofthe registration area, termination of NAS signaling, mobilitymanagement, and the like. Network slicing may be used by the AMF 182 a,182 b in order to customize CN support for WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 cbased on the types of services being utilized WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c.For example, different network slices may be established for differentuse cases such as services relying on ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC)access, services relying on enhanced massive mobile broadband (eMBB)access, services for machine type communication (MTC) access, and/or thelike. The AMF 182 a/182 b may provide a control plane function forswitching between the RAN 113 and other RANs (not shown) that employother radio technologies, such as LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and/or non-3GPPaccess technologies such as WiFi.

The SMF 183 a, 183 b may be connected to an AMF 182 a, 182 b in the CN115 via an N11 interface. The SMF 183 a, 183 b may also be connected toa UPF 184 a, 184 b in the CN 115 via an N4 interface. The SMF 183 a, 183b may select and control the UPF 184 a, 184 b and configure the routingof traffic through the UPF 184 a, 184 b. The SMF 183 a, 183 b mayperform other functions, such as managing and allocating UE IP address,managing PDU sessions, controlling policy enforcement and QoS, providingdownlink data notifications, and the like. A PDU session type may beIP-based, non-IP based, Ethernet-based, and the like.

The UPF 184 a, 184 b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180 a,180 b, 180 c in the RAN 113 via an N3 interface, which may provide theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to packet-switched networks, suchas the Internet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102 b, 102 c and IP-enabled devices. The UPF 184, 184 b may performother functions, such as routing and forwarding packets, enforcing userplane policies, supporting multi-homed PDU sessions, handling user planeQoS, buffering downlink packets, providing mobility anchoring, and thelike.

The CN 115 may facilitate communications with other networks. Forexample, the CN 115 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway(e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as aninterface between the CN 115 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the CN 115may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to the othernetworks 112, which may include other wired and/or wireless networksthat are owned and/or operated by other service providers. In oneembodiment, the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c may be connected to a localData Network (DN) 185 a, 185 b through the UPF 184 a, 184 b via the N3interface to the UPF 184 a, 184 b and an N6 interface between the UPF184 a, 184 b and the DN 185 a, 185 b.

In view of FIGS. 1A-1D, and the corresponding description of FIGS.1A-1D, one or more, or all, of the functions described herein withregard to one or more of: WTRU 102 a-d, Base Station 114 a-b, eNode-B160 a-c, MME 162, SGW 164, PGW 166, gNB 180 a-c, AMF 182 a-ab, UPF 184a-b, SMF 183 a-b, DN 185 a-b, and/or any other device(s) describedherein, may be performed by one or more emulation devices (not shown).The emulation devices may be one or more devices configured to emulateone or more, or all, of the functions described herein. For example, theemulation devices may be used to test other devices and/or to simulatenetwork and/or WTRU functions.

The emulation devices may be designed to implement one or more tests ofother devices in a lab environment and/or in an operator networkenvironment. For example, the one or more emulation devices may performthe one or more, or all, functions while being fully or partiallyimplemented and/or deployed as part of a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network in order to test other devices within thecommunication network. The one or more emulation devices may perform theone or more, or all, functions while being temporarilyimplemented/deployed as part of a wired and/or wireless communicationnetwork. The emulation device may be directly coupled to another devicefor purposes of testing and/or performing testing using over-the-airwireless communications.

The one or more emulation devices may perform the one or more, includingall, functions while not being implemented/deployed as part of a wiredand/or wireless communication network. For example, the emulationdevices may be utilized in a testing scenario in a testing laboratoryand/or a non-deployed (e.g., testing) wired and/or wirelesscommunication network in order to implement testing of one or morecomponents. The one or more emulation devices may be test equipment.Direct RF coupling and/or wireless communications via RF circuitry(e.g., which may include one or more antennas) may be used by theemulation devices to transmit and/or receive data.

In one embodiment a WTRU may operate on a fifth generation (5G) oftechnology. A 5G air interface may have the following non-exhaustiveuses: Improved broadband performance (IBB); Industrial control andcommunications (ICC) and vehicular applications such as vehicle toeverything (V2X) or vehicle to vehicle (V2V); Massive Machine-TypeCommunications (mMTC). These example uses may have the followingrequirements for the air-interface which are further discussed herein:support for ultra-low transmission latency (ULLC or LLC); support forultra-reliable transmission (URC); and/or Support for MTC operation(including narrowband operation).

Support for LLC may involve an air interface latency with a lms roundtrip time (RTT), which may in turn require support for time transmissionintervals (TTIs), for example, in a range between 100 us and (no largerthan) 250 us. Support for ultra-low access latency is also aconsideration, which is defined as the time from initial system accessuntil the completion of the transmission of the first user plane dataunit). For example, IC and V2X may require end-to-end (e2e) latency ofless than 10 ms.

Support for URC may involve improved transmission reliability ascompared to LTE systems. For example, one target is 99.999% transmissionsuccess and service availability. Another consideration is support formobility for speed in an example range of 0-500 km/h. IC and V2X mayrequire a Packet Loss Ratio (PLR) of less than 10e⁻⁶.

Support for MTC operation (including narrowband operation) may involvean air interface that supports narrowband operation (e.g., using lessthan 200 kHz), extended battery life (e.g. up to 15 years of autonomy)and minimal communication overhead for small and infrequent datatransmissions (e.g., low data rate in the range of 1-100 kbps withaccess latency of seconds to hours).

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, the WTRU may beconfigured to perform transmissions according to one or more SpectrumOperating Modes SOMs. For example, a SOM may correspond to transmissionsthat use at least one of the following: a specific TTI duration, aspecific initial power level, a specific HARQ processing type, aspecific upper bound for successful HARQ reception/transmission, aspecific transmission mode, a specific physical channel (uplink ordownlink), a specific waveform type or even a transmission according toa specific RAT (e.g. legacy LTE or 5G transmission method). A SOM maycorrespond to a quality of service (QoS) level and/or related aspecte.g. maximum/target latency, maximum/target block error rate (BLER) orsimilar. A SOM may correspond to a spectrum area and/or to a specificcontrol channel or aspect thereof (including search space, downlinkcontrol information (DCI) type, etc.). For example, a WTRU may beconfigured with a SOM for each of a URC type of service, an LLC type ofservice and an MBB type of service. A WTRU may have a configuration fora SOM for system access and/or for transmission/reception of L3 controlsignaling (e.g., radio resource control (RRC)) e.g. in a portion of aspectrum associated with the system such as in a nominal systembandwidth (further discussed herein).

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, multi-carriersignals may be supported. For comparison, LTE employs multi-carriersignals such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) orSC-FDMA. Use of a multi-carrier signal may result in high spectrumefficiency, efficient multiplexing of users on a carrier, andimplementation efficiency. Multi-carrier signals may be characterized bya limited number of parameters such as sub-carrier spacing, symbolduration, and/or (when applicable) cyclic prefix or time guard duration.

In a wireless communications technology, such as LTE, there may be afinite and small number of combinations of the parameters discussedherein that may be applicable. For example, in the downlink thesubcarrier spacing may be set to 15 kHz (a value of 7.5 kHz is alsospecified for multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) but may notbe fully supported in some configurations) and the type of signal may beOFDM. In the uplink, the subcarrier spacing may be set to 15 kHz for allsignals and channels except for physical random access channel (PRACH),which may use smaller values (7.5 kHz and 1.25 kHz). The type of uplinksignal may be Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiplex (SC-FDM). Themain subcarrier spacing value of 15 kHz may be suitable consideringpropagation characteristics in deployments targeted by LTE. Morespecifically, subcarrier spacing may be high compared to expectedDoppler spread values given a maximum speed and frequency bands used bya WTRU, and the symbol duration may be high compared to the duration ofthe cyclic prefix required to avoid inter-symbol interference due todelay spread. In an example, two possible durations are defined for thecyclic prefix (CP): a “normal CP” of approximately 5 microseconds; and,an “extended CP” of approximately 17 microseconds. The latter value maybe used in scenarios where the expected delay spread is larger.

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, there may bebandwidth flexibility. In one embodiment, a 5G air interface may havedifferent transmission bandwidths on both uplink and downlink rangingfrom anything between a nominal system bandwidth up to a maximum valuecorresponding to the system bandwidth.

For single carrier operation, supported system bandwidths may, forexample, include at least 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 MHz. Supported systembandwidths may be any bandwidth in a given range (e.g., a few MHz up to160 MHz). Nominal bandwidths may have one or more fixed values.Narrowband transmissions of up to 200 kHz may be supported within theoperating bandwidth for MTC devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of transmission bandwidths 200.System bandwidth 201, as discussed herein, may represent the largestportion of spectrum that can be managed by the network for a givencarrier, which in the example shown in FIG. 2 is 20 MHz. For such acarrier, the portion that a WTRU minimally supports for cellacquisition, measurements, and initial access to the network, maycorrespond to the nominal system bandwidth 202, which in the exampleshown in FIG. 2 is 5 MHz. A WTRU may be configured with a channelbandwidth that is within the range of the entire system bandwidth. Forexample, WTRUx may have a channel bandwidth 203 of 10 MHz, WTRUy mayhave a channel bandwidth 204 of 20 MHz, and WTRUz may have a channelbandwidth 205 of 5 MHz but allocated on an end of the system bandwidth.A WTRU's configured channel bandwidth may or may not include the nominalpart of the system bandwidth.

Bandwidth flexibility may be achieved because all applicable set of RFrequirements for a given maximum operating bandwidth in a band may bemet without the introduction of additional allowed channel bandwidthsfor that operating band due to efficient support of baseband filteringof the frequency domain waveform.

Methods to configure, reconfigure, and/or dynamically change the WTRU'schannel bandwidth for single carrier operation may be described hereinas well as methods to allocate spectrum for narrowband transmissionswithin the nominal system bandwidth, total system bandwidth, orconfigured channel bandwidth.

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, the physical layerof an air interface may be band-agnostic and may support operation inlicensed bands below 5 GHz as well as operation in bands in the range5-6 GHz. For operation in the unlicensed bands, listen before talk (LBT)Cat 4 based channel access framework similar to LTE licensed assistedaccess (LAA) may be supported.

Methods to scale and manage (e.g., scheduling, addressing of resources,broadcasted signals, measurements) cell-specific and/or WTRU-specificchannel bandwidths for arbitrary spectrum block sizes are alsoconsiderations for any wireless technology, such as 5G.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example flexible spectrum allocation 300 forwireless communication technology, such as 5G. In the example flexiblespectrum allocation 300, system bandwidth 302 is shown in incrementshorizontally (e.g., 20 MHz), and time 301 is shown in incrementsvertically. Subcarrier spacing 304 may be of a first value _(delta)F₁and may span a spectrum allocation with variable transmissioncharacteristics 306 a. Subcarrier spacing 305 may be of a second value_(delta)F₂, possibly larger than subcarrier spacing 304, and may span aspectrum allocation with variable transmission characteristics 306 b.There may be a nominal portion of bandwidth 303 comprising a cell (e.g.,5 MHz).

Downlink control channels and signals may support frequency divisionmultiplexing (FDM) operation. In FDM operation, a WTRU may acquire adownlink carrier by receiving transmissions using only the nominal part303 of the system bandwidth 302; for example, the WTRU may not initiallyneed to receive transmissions covering the entire system bandwidth 302that is being managed by the network for the concerned carrier.

Downlink data channels may be allocated over a bandwidth that may or maynot correspond to the nominal system bandwidth 303, without restrictionsother than being within the WTRU's configured channel bandwidth. Forexample, the network may operate a carrier with a 12 MHz systembandwidth using a 5 MHz nominal bandwidth 303 allowing devicessupporting at most 5 MHz maximum RF bandwidth to acquire and access thesystem while allocating +10 to −10 MHz of the carrier frequency to otherWTRU's supporting up to 20 MHz worth of channel bandwidth.

The example of spectrum allocation in FIG. 3 may have, at leastconceptually, different subcarriers assigned to different modes ofoperation, i.e. spectrum operation modes (SOMs). Different SOMs may beused to fulfill different requirements for different transmissions. ASOM may consist of at least a subcarrier spacing, a TTI length, and oneor more reliability aspects such as HARQ processing or a secondarycontrol channel. Further, a SOM may be used to refer to a specificwaveform or may be related to a processing aspect; for example, a SOMmay relate to the co-existence of different waveforms in the samecarrier using FDM and/or TDM; in another example, a SOM may relate tothe co-existence of frequency division duplexing (FDD) operation in atime division duplexing (TDD) band that is supported, such as in a TDMmanner or the like.

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, a system signaturemay be considered. A WTRU may be configured to receive and/or detect oneor more system signatures. A system signature may consist of a signalstructure using a sequence. The signal may be similar to asynchronization signal (SS) similar to LTE primary synchronizationsignals (PSS) and/or secondary synchronization signals (SSS). Thesignature may be specific (e.g. uniquely identifiable) to a particularnode, or a Transmission/Reception Point, TRP, within a given area or itmay be common to a plurality of such nodes or TRPs within an area; thesignature information may not be known and/or relevant to the WTRU. TheWTRU may determine and/or detect a system signature sequence and furtherdetermine one or more parameters associated with the system. Forexample, the WTRU may derive an index therefrom and may use the index toretrieve associated parameters from within a table as described herein.In another example, the WTRU may use a received power associated with asignature for open-loop power control, for the purpose of setting theinitial transmission power if the WTRU determines that it may access,and/or transmit, using applicable resources of the system. In yetanother example, the WTRU may use the timing of a received signaturesequence such as for the purpose of setting the timing of a transmission(e.g., a preamble on a PRACH resource) if the WTRU determines that itmay access, and/or transmit, using applicable resources of the system.

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, an access table maystore parameters for use by a WTRU. A WTRU may be configured with a listof one or more entries. The list may be referred to as an access tableand may be indexed whereby each entry may be associated with a systemsignature and/or to a sequence thereof. The access table may provideinitial access parameters for one or more areas. Each entry may provideone or more parameters necessary for performing an initial access to thesystem. Parameters may include at least one of a set of one or morerandom access parameters e.g. including applicable physical layerresources (e.g. PRACH resources) in time and/or frequency, initial powerlevel, physical layer resources for reception of a response. Parametersmay further include access restrictions such as including public landmobile network (PLMN) identity and/or closed subscriber group (CSG)information. Parameters may also include routing-related informationsuch as the applicable routing area(s). Each entry may be associatedwith, and/or indexed by, a system signature. For example, an entry maybe common to a plurality of nodes or TRPs. The WTRU may receive anaccess table by means of a transmission using dedicated resources, suchas by RRC configuration and/or by means of a transmission usingbroadcasted resources. When the WTRU receives an access table by meansof a transmission using broadcasted resources, the periodicity of thetransmission of an access table may be relatively long (e.g., up to10240 ms); the transmission may be longer than the periodicity of thetransmission of a signature (e.g., in the range of 100 ms).

In a wireless communications technology, such as 5G, an air interfacemay need to support a wide variety of frequency bands and use cases suchas eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC. Due to the CAPEX/OPEX of network deployments,it may be desirable to multiplex the different use cases on the samecontiguous block of spectrum. Each use case may have its ownrequirements that lead to the need for different transmissionparameters, including signal structure, numerology (e.g. subcarrierspacing (SCS), symbol size, CP length, etc.) and the like.

As described herein, transmission parameter, signal structure ornumerology may be used interchangeably and may be defined orparameterized by at least one of: a waveform (e.g. OFDM, SC-FDMA,zero-tail DFT-spread OFDM, or the like); parameter associated with awaveform, such as subcarrier spacing (SC S), cyclic prefix (CP) length,symbol size or the like; parameter associated with a transmission, forexample the number of symbols that make up a transmission opportunity orthe location and/or timing of a scheduling opportunity, or anotherexample may be unlicensed channel access parameters (e.g. listen-beforetalk or clear channel assessment parameters); multiple access schemessuch as OFDMA, NOMA (including any variant of non-orthogonal multipleaccess) or the like; a condition where a transmission is received ortransmitted by a node (e.g. whether a transmission is UL or DL at theWTRU); and/or use case (i.e. eMBB, URLLC, mMTC).

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a carrier'sbandwidth may be segmented into numerology blocks. A carrier may beconfigured to support different transmission types, each associated witha different numerology. Such support may be done by enabling themultiplexing of different numerologies using at least one of: frequencydomain multiplexing (FDM), whereby each supported numerology may beassociated with a portion of the spectrum allocated to the carrier; timedivision multiplexing (TDM), whereby each supported numerology may beassociated with a specific time; spatial domain multiplexing (SDM),whereby each supported numerology may be associated with a specificprecoder or beam (e.g. transmitter beam or receiver beam or beam pair).For example, a TRP may support concurrent transmission on multipleanalog beams, each with a different numerology, and/or code domainmultiplexing, whereby each supported numerology may use an orthogonalspreading sequence.

A block, region, or portion of a carrier may be defined by at least oneof: a frequency range, for example a contiguous frequency range or anon-contiguous set of frequency ranges; a time portion, for example acontiguous time portion or a non-contiguous set of time portions,wherein the time portion may repeat indefinitely, e.g. in a periodicmanner; a beam (e.g. transmitter beam, or receiver beam or beam pair) ora set of beams; and/or a spreading sequence or a set of spreadingsequences.

A block, region, or portion of a carrier may be configured or associatedwith a numerology and may thus be called a numerology block (or regionor portion). A carrier may be composed of one or multiple numerologyblock(s).

In a method and system for flexible resource usage a carrier's bandwidthmay be segmented into numerology blocks, wherein there may be multiplenumerologies per numerology block. A numerology block may be defined bya block or region or portion of a carrier along with more than onenumerology. For example, in TDD a numerology block may be defined tohave a first numerology for UL transmissions and a second numerology forDL transmissions.

In another example, a numerology block may be defined as having a set ofnumerologies, each may be associated with one or more physical channels,wherein the control channels may have a first numerology, and the datachannels may have a second numerology.

In yet another example, a numerology block may be associated with anumerology for WTRU specific transmissions. Any broadcast or commontransmissions may use a pre-configured and pre-determined numerology.For example, a system information block may provide the numerology orsignal structure of broadcast information. The system information blockmay also indicate the location (e.g. in frequency, time, beam, etc.) ofthe broadcast information. In this example, the WTRU may be configuredto understand that a numerology associated with a numerology block maynot be valid for all instances of the block or region or portion of thecarrier indicated. Instead, it may only be valid for resources notassociated with broadcast or common transmissions.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage a carrier's bandwidthmay be segmented into numerology blocks, wherein there may be parametersassociated with a numerology block. A numerology block may be configuredwith a set of parameters to enable scheduling of data transmissions. Theset of parameters may include at least one of: a definition of aresource block size, for example a resource block (RB) may be defined bya bandwidth portion and depending on the subcarrier spacing of anumerology may have a different number of subcarriers or the RB may bedefined as a number of subcarriers and depending on the subcarrierspacing may occupy different bandwidth portion; a definition of asubframe length, for example a subframe length may be defined by anabsolute time value and depending on the symbol length of a numerologymay have different number of symbols or a subframe length may be definedby a number of symbols and depending on the symbol length of anumerology may have different absolute time duration; a timing for ascheduling opportunity or a slot length, where a scheduling opportunity(or a slot boundary) may be defined as a time where a control channelmay be received by a WTRU indicating a scheduling assignment (e.g., whensubframes or slots may begin) or grant for one or more upcomingsubframes (e.g., the subframes may not be adjacent in time and may haveunused time periods where unused time periods may be used to ensureproper synchronization between different numerology blocks in differentfrequency regions); switching timing for UL to DL or DL to UL, which maybe explicitly configured in a TDD system to ensure that all numerologyblocks have aligned UL/DL boundaries regardless of SCS, for example.

FIG. 4 shows an example of non-adjacent subframes or slots that enablesubframe synchronization between different numerology blocks in a samecarrier. Additionally/alternatively multiple subframes or slots mayoccur between every scheduling opportunity. Additionally/alternatively,different numerology blocks may have different subframe or slot durationor scheduling opportunity periodicity. Time 401 is shown on thehorizontal axis and frequency 402 is shown on the vertical axis. Onescheduling opportunity is shown with 406. In the example shown, thesubframe 404 a or an integer multiple thereof, may not take up theentire scheduling opportunity 406. The next subframe 404 b would be thesame as 404 a and the subframe 404 b would start at the end of the firstscheduling opportunity 406. The block of subframes 403 represent analternative scheduling example where the subframe takes up the entirescheduling opportunity. The gap between 404 a and 404 b may be unusedresources used to synchronize subframes between the two numerologyblocks. Note also that in this example, the scheduling example 404 a isbroken up into blocks or symbols, that are two and a half times as longin time as the scheduling example 403 blocks.

In one embodiment, some or all of the parameters discussed herein may beconfigured or indicated simultaneously to the configuration orindication of the numerology blocks. In another embodiment, some or allof the parameters may be indicated within a scheduling assignment orgrant. For example, a WTRU may be scheduled for a downlink transmission,and the scheduling information may include the numerology block wherethe transmission may occur, along with the subframe length measured inunits of symbols.

A numerology block may have more than one set of parameters. Forexample, a numerology block in TDD may have different parameters for ULand for DL.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a carrier'sbandwidth may be segmented into numerology blocks, wherein the multiplenumerology blocks may span the entire spectrum allocated to a carrier.In another embodiment, the multiple numerology blocks may not span theentire spectrum and may have spacing between at least some of thenumerology blocks. Such spacing may be configured as guard bands.

One or more guard bands may be configured when FDM is used to supportmultiple numerology blocks. In one embodiment, a boundary between twoblocks may be configured with a guard band or guard band area. Forexample, a block may be configured (e.g., similarly to a numerologyblock) to indicate resources used for a guard band. In anotherembodiment, a numerology block may be configured with one or two guardbands at one or both of its frequency edges within or immediatelyoutside the resources of the numerology block.

A guard band or guard band area may be considered as a set offrequencies and/or time resources where a WTRU expects no transmissionfrom another node, nor may it be expected to be granted resources fortransmission to (or to autonomously select resources from) another node.One or more guard band areas may be configured jointly with theconfiguration of at least one numerology block. Alternatively, one ormore guard band areas may be independently configured.

A guard band's frequency span may be defined in absolute spectrum width.In another embodiment, a guard band's frequency span may be defined interms of a subcarrier spacing specifically assigned for guard banddefinition. In yet another embodiment, a guard band's frequency span maybe defined in terms of subcarriers, assuming the subcarrier spacing ofat least one of the adjacent numerology blocks.

Similarly, a guard band's time duration may be defined in absolute timeunits, in terms of a symbol duration assigned to guard band definition,or in terms of a symbol duration of at least one adjacent numerologyblock.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a carrier'sbandwidth may be segmented and configured into numerology blocks. Asdiscussed herein, the configuration or indication of a numerology blockmay also be applicable to the configuration or indication of a guardband or guard band area.

A carrier may be segmented into multiple numerology blocks. In oneembodiment, a WTRU needs to know the boundaries of at least onenumerology block along with the parameters associated with transmissionson at least one numerology block. The boundaries and the parameters ofthe at least one numerology block may be indicated jointly orseparately.

One or more numerology block boundaries or sets of parameters may beindicated semi-statically. For example, one or more boundaries or setsof parameters may be indicated in a transmission enabling the WTRU toperform initial access. For example, a system information block or asignature sequence or synchronization signal may indicate at least oneboundary and a set of parameters for at least one numerology block. Sucha numerology block may be used by the WTRU to receive furtherinformation to continue with initial access. The original systeminformation block, signature sequence, or synchronization signal may betransmitted with a fixed numerology and set of numerology parameters. Inanother example, multiple numerologies may be supported for the originalsystem information block, signature sequence, or synchronization signal,and a WTRU may blind decode to determine the appropriate numerology ofthat transmission.

Additionally, the at least one boundary or sets of parameters for atleast one numerology block may be indicated semi-statically by higherlayer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). For example, one or more WTRUsmay receive a transmission that indicates at least one boundary or setof parameters for at least one numerology block.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a carrier'sbandwidth may be segmented into numerology blocks, wherein thenumerology block may be configured for dynamic indication. Further, oneor more numerology block boundaries or sets of parameters may beindicated dynamically. For example, downlink control information (DCI)may indicate the boundary and set of parameters of at least onenumerology block. The DCI transmission may use common control signaling(e.g., including a group radio network identifier (RNTI) identifier orthe like); this may enable a group of WTRUs to be updated with newboundaries for at least one numerology block and/or new sets or sets ofparameters for at least one numerology block. The DCI transmission mayoccur periodically, for instance, according to a configuration providedby higher layers. The transmission may be repeated over more than onedownlink beam to ensure uniform coverage.

In another example, in a DCI scheduling transmission (for either DL orUL) the appropriate numerology (or numerologies) may be indicated to theWTRU to be used in the resources that the WTRU is scheduled to transmitor receive data.

The dynamic indication of the configuration of at least one numerologyblock may be done in two parts. For example, the boundaries of at leastone numerology block may be changed less frequently and may thus beindicated in a control channel (e.g. DCI) that is less frequentlytransmitted. A TRP (e.g., eNB) may transmit a second control channeltransmission (e.g., DCI) indicating the sets of parameters for thenumerology blocks using the previously indicated boundaries. Such atransmission may be more frequent than the first, to enable more dynamiccontrol over the numerology parameters.

The search space of the first and second control channel transmissionsmay occupy the same or different frequency portion of the carrier. Forexample, the first and/or second control channel transmissions may betransmitted in a control region that spans the entire bandwidth of thecarrier using a fixed (i.e., known by the WTRU) numerology.Alternatively, the search space of a control channel transmission mayspan a portion of the bandwidth of the carrier. For example, the searchspace may span all the bandwidth portions that are being configured orreconfigured. In another alternative, the search space may span only thebandwidth portions that are being configured/reconfigured with a sameset of numerology parameters; given this, multiple numerology blocks(e.g., disjointed blocks) may be configured/reconfigured with the sameset of numerology parameters. In this case, the search space of thecontrol channel may span disjointed frequencies where the samenumerology parameters are used.

The search space of first and/or second control channel transmission mayuse the same boundary and/or set of numerology parameters as that forthe numerology block it is configuring/reconfiguring. This may require aWTRU to blindly determine the boundaries and/or sets of numerologyparameters of the control channel(s). Alternatively, a control channelused to configure/reconfigure the boundaries and/or sets of parametersof at least one numerology block may use a predetermined andconfigurable/reconfigurable boundary and numerology.

FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of a two-step configuration of numerologyblocks. Time 501 is shown in the horizontal axis, and frequency 502 isshown in the vertical axis. A WTRU may receive a first control channeltransmission, possibly using a group RNTI (or the like) in a firstcontrol region 503. A control region may be a set of resources where acontrol channel may be transmitted and may span one or more numerologyblocks. A control channel transmission may indicate to a WTRU theboundaries of one or more numerology blocks spanning a portion or theentire carrier bandwidth; the control channel transmission may indicatethe segmentation of at least a portion of the carrier bandwidth. Withinthe outer boundaries of the carrier 506 a and 506 c, there may beadditional boundaries such as 506 b. The control channel transmissionsmay be transmitted in a preconfigured frequency, bandwidth part (BWP),or numerology block using a known numerology; a BWP may beinterchangeable with a numerology block(s). Such a control transmissionmay be periodic or aperiodic. Such a control channel transmission mayalso be used to configure the WTRU with the required parameters todecode at least one second control region that contains a second controlchannel transmission.

After decoding the boundaries 506 a-c, a WTRU may expect a secondcontrol channel transmission indicating the set of parameters to be usedin at least one of the numerology blocks in a second control region 504and 505. The second control region 504 or 505 may span resources of asingle numerology block and may be used to transmit control signalingrelated to that numerology block. The WTRU may expect such a controlchannel transmission to be in the same preconfigured frequency as thefirst control channel transmission, just as the second control regions504 and 505 are shown to be within the first control region 503. Inanother case, the WTRU may expect a second control channel transmissionto be transmitted within the frequency range encompassed by thenumerology block(s) for which the configuration is applicable.

In an embodiment, the boundaries 506 a-c of the numerology blocks may beindicated semi-statically (not shown); for example in a systeminformation block. A WTRU may then monitor the different numerologyblocks to receive control channel transmissions indicating theappropriate numerology parameters for at least one numerology block.

FIG. 5B shows an example process following the example relating to FIG.5A. At 551 a WTRU may receive a transmission on a first control channel,wherein the transmission includes first control information (i.e., firstcontrol channel transmission). At 552 the WTRU may receive atransmission on a second control channel, wherein the transmissionincludes second control channel information (i.e., the second controlchannel transmission). The second control channel may be known to theWTRU based on information provided in the first control channeltransmission. At 553 the WTRU may transmit/receive data based on thefirst control channel transmission and/or the second control channeltransmission. The first control channel transmission may configure thefrequency boundaries for the second control channel transmission, andthe second control channel transmission may have numerologyconfiguration parameters for scheduling data transmission or receptionof data.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a carrier'sbandwidth may be segmented into numerology blocks, wherein there may bea protocol to address possible errors. The transmission of first,second, or both control channels may be periodic or aperiodic. Ifaperiodic transmission is used, a WTRU may assume no changes until itreceives a new control channel transmission indicating a change inconfiguration. In one example, when aperiodic transmission is used theremay be an error if a WTRU does not properly decode an indication of achange of boundaries of a set of parameters of at least one numerologyblock. Furthermore, when a first and second control channel are used toindicate the boundary(ies) and sets of parameters respectively, a missedfirst control channel may lead to an erroneously detected second controlchannel transmission.

To address this error possibility, a WTRU may transmit an acknowledgmentupon receiving an aperiodic control channel for either a change inboundary(ies) or change in set(s) of parameters, or both.

FIG. 5C shows an example process for dynamically receiving and changingnumerology block(s) parameters/boundaries relating to the examples ofFIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. In one embodiment, a WTRU 102 is preconfigured tomonitor 581 periodically or aperiodically for a control channel in afirst control region. A gNB 180 sends a first control channeltransmission 582, such as a first DCI, to a WTRU 102 includingnumerology block(s) boundaries. In some instances, the WTRU 102 may beconfigured to send an acknowledgment (ACK) 583 to confirm the firstcontrol channel transmission 582. The gNB 180 may send a second controlchannel transmission 584 indicating parameters for the numerologyblock(s) of the first control channel transmission to the WTRU 102. Insome instances, the WTRU 102 may be configured to send an acknowledgment(ACK) 585 to confirm the second control channel transmission 584. TheWTRU 102 may use the information it received to process 586 thenumerology configuration for transmitting/receiving data. The WTRU 102may transmit 587 data to the gNB 180 according to the processing itperformed based on the received numerology boundaries/parameters.

Alternatively, a change in boundary(ies) or sets of parameters of anumerology block may include a new value tag. Future schedulingassignments or grants may include the value tag as well. This may enablea WTRU to determine if a change in numerology blocks or parametersthereof has occurred since it last received a successful(re)configuration. In another alternative, the numerology block valuetag may be transmitted in a periodic manner, either in a transmission ofits own or tied to another (e.g., system information).

In a method and system for flexible resource usage a carrier's bandwidthmay be segmented into numerology blocks, wherein there may be anindication of numerology blocks from the reception of a first signal. AWTRU may be configured to detect and decode synchronization signals (SS)(e.g., PSS, SSS) possibly with configurable numerologies and bandwidth.For example, a WTRU may attempt to blindly detect one or more SS with asubset of possible numerologies and bandwidths.

Upon detection of an applicable SS, the WTRU may determine theappropriate numerology and/or bandwidth used for at least one of: asubsequent system information transmission (e.g., a MIB or a SIB); acontrol channel transmission such as a control channel indicatingnumerology block segmentation and/or set of numerology parameters pernumerology block; a paging transmission; and/or an uplink transmission(e.g., a PRACH transmission).

In one example if a WTRU detects an SS in a first set of resources, theWTRU may implicitly determine that system information will betransmitted in a second set of resources using a specific numerology(e.g., the same numerology as was used for the SS). In another example,upon detecting an SS in a first set of resources using a firstnumerology, the WTRU may attempt to detect system information or acontrol channel transmission in a subset of possible resources (e.g., asubset of possible frequency regions or subbands and/or time occasions)each using a possible subset of numerologies.

The subsets of resources and numerologies that a WTRU may attempt toblindly decode the system information may be determined implicitly fromthe SS transmission. For example, depending on the bandwidth and/or thesequence and/or the numerology of the SS transmission, the WTRU may beconfigured to attempt blind detection of system information on aspecific set of resources and/or using a set of possible numerologies.

The system information resources (or the resources of any transmissionsexpected after the SS) may be defined relative to the resources of theSS. For example, an SS located at time n may indicate the possiblepresence of system information at time n+k, where the units of time forn and k may be pre-determined or may be dependent on a parameter of theSS (e.g. symbol duration of the SS). The relative relationship betweenan SS and a subsequent transmission (e.g., n and k) may be known apriori by the WTRU, either always fixed or configured by another cell,TRP, or carrier.

In an embodiment, at least one SS transmission may indicate explicitlythe set of resources and/or numerology where a WTRU may attempt todecode system information. For example, this indication may be encodedas a parameter of the SS sequence or on top of the SS sequence. Inanother example, the SS may be composed of two parts, a sequence on afirst set of resources and an indication of parameters used for systeminformation in a second set of resources.

In an embodiment, multiple SS may indicate multiple numerology blocks.Also, a WTRU may detect multiple SS, possibly simultaneously. Each SSmay be confined to a specific frequency range, and have a specific BWand may use a different numerology. The location, BW and/or numerologyof each SS may enable the WTRU to determine numerology block boundariesand numerology block parameters. The parameters of each SS may enablethe WTRU to detect and decode one or more system informationtransmissions, possibly using parameters indicated by the SS asdiscussed herein. In an example, each SS may indicate the parametersrequired for the WTRU to decode a unique system informationtransmission. Further, such a system information transmission may beapplicable only to that numerology block. In another example, one orsome or all SS may indicate parameters for the WTRU to decode generalsystem information. Further, such a system information transmission maybe applicable to all numerology blocks. In another example, each SS maypoint to any of a plurality of resources where system information may betransmitted. Depending on the resources where the WTRU obtains systeminformation, the contents may include information relevant for allnumerology blocks along with information which may be relevant only to asubset of numerology blocks (e.g. the block or blocks within which thesystem information is transmitted).

The WTRU may indicate to the network (e.g., in a first UL transmission)the set of SS it has detected and/or relevant measurements taken on theset of SS it has detected. For example, the WTRU may indicate channelquality indicator (CQI), reference signals received power (RSRP),received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or pathloss measurementstaken on each SS it has detected. This may enable the WTRU to indicateits capabilities (e.g., in terms of bandwidth and numerology).

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a carrier'sbandwidth may support multiple flexible control channel regions, whichmay be configured accordingly. Control channels may operate with moreflexible bandwidths in order to enable full flexibility of the size ofnumerology blocks. A control channel region may not span an entirecarrier (e.g., in frequency or time). A control channel region may alsobe defined to be applicable for scheduling transmissions only for asubset of a subcarrier. For example, a control channel regiontransmitted on a subset of subcarriers may be applicable only forscheduling transmissions on that subset of subcarriers. In anotherexample, a control channel region transmitted on a first subset ofsubcarriers may be applicable only for scheduling transmissions on asecond subset of subcarriers where the second subset of subcarriers is asuperset including the first subset of subcarriers.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage a carrier's bandwidthmay support multiple flexible control channel regions, wherein there maybe located one or more control channel regions per numerology block. AWTRU configured with multiple numerology blocks may assume at least onecontrol channel regions per numerology block. A control channel regionmay include multiple search spaces. For example, the control channelregion may span the entire numerology block (e.g., in frequency ortime). Alternatively, the control region may span a subset of resources(e.g., frequency, time, beam, and/or spreading sequence) of thenumerology block.

The control region may reuse the numerology parameters configured forthe numerology block within which it is located. In an embodiment, thecontrol region may use another set of numerology parameters. This set ofnumerology parameters specific to the control region may be indicated aspart of the configuration of the numerology block. Alternatively, thecontrol region set of numerology parameters may be includedindependently of the configuration of the numerology block, usingmethods described herein for the configuration of the set of parametersfor a numerology block.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage a carrier's bandwidthmay support multiple flexible control channel regions, wherein there maybe located one or more control channel regions per set of numerologyblocks. A WTRU may be configured to monitor at least one control channelregion spanning multiple numerology blocks.

In an embodiment, the WTRU may monitor a control channel region formultiple numerology blocks if numerology blocks share the sameparameters (e.g., same SCS, same cyclic prefix, same subframe length,etc.). The control region may span the entire set of numerology blocks(e.g., in frequency or time). In an embodiment, the control region mayspan the resources of a subset of numerology blocks. For example, acarrier may be segmented into two numerology blocks, and the controlchannel region may span all the subcarriers of a single numerologyblock. In an embodiment, the control region may span a subset of thecombined resources (e.g., frequency, time, beam, and/or spreadingsequence) of the multiple numerology blocks. For example, a controlregion may span one numerology block and may be applicable to multiplenumerology blocks. The subset of combined resources may be adaptable andmay be determined based on a previous transmission or transmissions(e.g., a previously transmitted control channel).

In an embodiment, numerology blocks may share a control region only whenmultiple numerology blocks are adjacent. Alternatively, non-contiguousnumerology blocks may share a control channel region. For the case ofnon-contiguous numerology blocks sharing a control channel region, thecontrol channel region may be included only in a subset of numerologyblocks that are contiguous.

In an embodiment, the control channel region may span multiplenon-contiguous numerology blocks. Non-contiguous numerology blocks maybe considered to be contiguous in a virtual mapping. A virtual mappingmay be used to effectively spread control channel elements (CCE) and/orresource element groups (REG), in a manner similar to where the multiplenumerology blocks are contiguous. The virtual mapping of non-contiguousblocks may depend on at least one of: time of transmission for thesymbol, subframe, or frame when the control channel is transmitted;frequency of the numerology blocks, where the mapping may depend on theset of numerology blocks for which the control channel is valid; beam orbeam pair used to transmit the control channel; and/or previously usedvirtual mapper, and/or where the mapping rules may cycle through apre-determined set for each control channel transmission.

In an embodiment, a first control channel region applicable to a set ofnumerology blocks may be used to determine the resources used for thetransmission of a set of second control channels. The set of secondcontrol channels may be applicable to a subset of numerology blocks. Forexample, a set of n numerology blocks may use a first control channelregion located in resources designated for a numerology block i. Thefirst control channel region may indicate the location of the set ofsecond control channel regions each located in a different set ofnumerology blocks. For example, there may be a second control channelregion in contiguous numerology blocks j and k and another secondcontrol channel region in non-contiguous numerology blocks 1 and m. Thisis similar to FIG. 5A, except that the purpose of the first controlchannel is to indicate the presence of the second control channels,whose purpose is to schedule in the appropriate numerology blocks.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage the behavior of theWTRU may be monitored based on ability or need: for example, when a WTRUdoes not or cannot support certain numerology blocks the WTRU may beable to save power by not monitoring those certain numerology blocks. AWTRU may monitor one or more control channel regions, which may beselected based on whether the control channel region is in a numerologyblock that the WTRU may be scheduled to transmit and/or receive data.This may be determined based on WTRU capabilities: for example, if aWTRU cannot use a specific set of numerology parameters, it may notmonitor a control channel region that is applicable to a numerologyblock using that set of numerology parameters.

In an embodiment, the WTRU may monitor control channel regions dependingon the type of service required. For example, a numerology block may betied to a type of service and may only monitor control channels that mayschedule transmissions on the numerology blocks for the services forwhich it is configured.

A WTRU may determine that some or all numerology blocks of a carrier arenot applicable to the WTRU. In such a case, the WTRU may enter a lowpower mode/state (e.g., sleep or idle). In such a mode the WTRU may notmonitor some or all of the control channels, at least on the numerologyblocks that it may not or need not receive any control channeltransmission. Further, in order for the WTRU to determine when to exitthe sleep mode, the numerology block configuration may include avalidity timer, wherein a transmission configuring one or morenumerology blocks may indicate an amount of time (e.g. in time units, orin symbol units, or in subframe units) that a numerology blockconfiguration is valid. A low overhead transmission may be usedperiodically to indicate the remaining time that a numerology blockconfiguration is valid. This may enable a WTRU to determine (e.g., whenthe WTRU is woken up) whether it needs to monitor the one or morecontrol channels or if it may re-enter sleep.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage the WTRU may performmonitoring based on scheduling relationship between numerology blocks:for example, a WTRU may be scheduled in multiple numerology blocks of asingle control channel. A WTRU may monitor a control channel regionbased on pre-determined rules, such as a rule relating to the numerologyblock configuration.

In an embodiment, a WTRU may monitor a control channel region located ina numerology block with a specific numerology parameter (e.g. thelargest SCS or equivalently, with the smallest symbol size). The WTRUmay be configured with cross-numerology-block scheduling. In such anembodiment, when subframe boundaries between different numerology blocksdo not coincide a control region in a first numerology block may beapplicable only to numerology blocks with coinciding subframeboundaries. For example, a carrier may be segmented into two numerologyblocks, a first numerology block with subframe duration half that of thesecond numerology block. A control channel transmission in the firstnumerology block may be applicable to schedule a WTRU only in the firstsubframe in the second numerology block.

In an embodiment, the control region in a first numerology block may beapplicable to any other numerology blocks and for any subframes of theother numerology block until the next subframe boundary of the firstnumerology block where the control channel region is located. Forexample, a carrier may be segmented into two numerology blocks, a firstnumerology block with subframe duration half that of the secondnumerology block. A control channel transmission in the first numerologyblock may be applicable to schedule a WTRU in both concurrent subframesof the second numerology block.

In an embodiment, the WTRU may monitor control channel regions dependingon the type of service required. For example, a numerology block may betied to a type of service, and a WTRU may only monitor control channelsthat may schedule transmissions on the numerology blocks for theservices for which it is configured.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, the behavior of theWTRU may be monitored based on a configuration. In one embodiment, aWTRU may monitor a control channel region based on an indication byanother transmission. For example, a WTRU may be configured to monitor aspecific control channel region. The configuration may be semi-static(e.g., using system information or higher layer signaling) or it may bedynamic (e.g., using another control channel transmission located in aconfigurable control channel region).

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, the WTRU may performmonitoring based on a configuration, wherein the configuration mayrelate to monitoring control channels based on a hierarchy: for example,a WTRU may reduce its power consumption by regularly monitoring asmaller amount of control channel regions until instructed to monitormore. A WTRU may monitor a first level control channel to determinewhether it needs to monitor or decode one or more second level controlchannels. The first level control channel may occur over a limitedbandwidth or set of resources or set of numerology blocks, and the WTRUmay only decode the first level control channel over the limitedbandwidth or set of resources or numerology block(s). The WTRU, uponindication from the first level control channel that the second levelcontrol channel needs to be decoded, may perform decoding of the secondlevel control channel potentially based on parameters provided in thefirst level control channel. The decoding of the second level controlchannel may be performed over a second sub-band or set of resources orset of numerology blocks (e.g., the entire bandwidth, set of resources,or set of numerology blocks). Further, this may involve turning on alarger, or different, portion of the front-end or digital processing ofthe WTRU receiver, waking up certain parts of the hardware required forprocessing the second level of the control channel, or other relatedactions. The WTRU may further determine its resource grants (UL/DL) fordata, system information, or other data/information on the secondcontrol channel.

In one embodiment, WTRU may be configured in a low-power state when thescheduling activity at the WTRU is low, which may reduce the need toenable all of the WTRUs control channel processing during this low-powerstate.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a WTRU may receiveinformation from the first control channel. Upon decoding the firstlevel control channel, the WTRU may be able to determine some parametersof the second level control channel.

Required behavior, of the WTRU, following the decoding of the firstcontrol channel, may be a parameter of the second control channeldetermined by the WTRU upon decoding of the first control channel.Namely, the first channel may indicate whether the WTRU should monitorthe second level control channel or not.

A parameter of the second control channel determined by the WTRU upondecoding of the first control channel may determine which controlchannels in the second level the WTRU should monitor. For example, whatcontrol channel region to monitor. In another example, the controlchannel regions may be associated with specific numerology blocks.

In one embodiment, the WTRU, upon decoding of the first channel, mayperform decoding of the second control channel using the time-frequencyresource location and bandwidth information provided in the firstcontrol channel to locate the control channel. The second channel mayfurther use the first channel decoding method, C-RNTI, and numerology toperform the decoding, and it may further assume the location of thereference signals (RS) as provided in the first level control channel asthe assumed location in the second level control channel. Parametersassociated with the second control channel(s) include but are notlimited to: timing and duration of the second control channel, in theform of an offset from the first control channel, an absolute time, oran offset from an absolute time; bandwidth, frequency resources, ornumerology block(s), in the form of an absolute bandwidth or an index toa table providing allowable bandwidths; decoding method, such as, numberof search spaces to decode, aggregation level of search spaces, DCIs orsubset of DCIs, to search for; C-RNTI or other identifier used fordecoding; numerology (subcarrier spacing, FFT size, etc) where thenumerology of the second control channel may not match that of thenumerology block within which it may be transmitted; process parametersused for the second control channel such as beam orientation, timing ofthe beam, Rx beamwidth, (e.g., one example, a WTRU may decode the firstcontrol channel using a wide Rx beam which may indicate the requiredbeamwidth to use for the second control channel, and the WTRU may thendecode the second control channel(s) using a narrower beam, or viceversa); and/or location of reference signals in the second level controlchannel.

A resource grant may be determined by the WTRU upon decoding the firstcontrol channel. In this case, the WTRU may ignore the decoding of thesecond level control channel.

The parameters of the second control channel may be explicitly indicatedin the first control channel. In one alternative, the parameters of thesecond control channel may be determined by the WTRU via implicitmethods, such as one or more parameters of the first control channelmapped directly to one or more parameters of the second control channel.For example, the numerology used for the first control channel mayindicate to the WTRU the numerology used for the second control channel.In another alternative, one or more parameters described herein fordecoding the second level control channel may not be provided in thefirst level control channel and known apriori by the WTRU, or may beprovided to the WTRU using semi-static signaling, and the first levelcontrol channel may indicate only the need to decode the second levelcontrol channel.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a WTRU may receivean indication to monitor a second level control channel for a fixedperiod of time. A WTRU, upon receiving a message on the first levelcontrol channel, may be required to decode the second level controlchannel only for a fixed period of time. This period of time may beindicated in the message on the first control channel. The period may bein time, symbols, or subframes (e.g., using the symbol or subframe sizeof the second control channel or of the numerology block within whichthe second control channel is located). In another embodiment, theperiod of time may be known by the WTRU or semi-statically configured bythe network. The WTRU may further not be required to monitor the firstlevel control channel during this period. At the expiration of theperiod of time that the WTRU is required to monitor the second levelcontrol channel, the WTRU may go back to monitoring the first levelcontrol channel and stop monitoring the second level control channeluntil further signaling on the first level control channel.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, there may bereference signals for control channels. A WTRU may use reference signals(RS) for channel estimation to enable the demodulation of controlchannel transmissions. In one embodiment, the RSs may be concatenatedwithin a CCE in a similar fashion as REGs. The RSs may then beinterleaved in a similar manner as REGs, in order to ensure theappropriate spreading of RSs within the resources used for a controlchannel region.

In another embodiment, the RSs may be configured or placed in a mannerdependent on the set of numerology parameters used within a numerologyblock. Such placement may be fixed or may be configurable, at the sameor different time as the configuration of a numerology block.

The RSs may be mapped to one or more numerology blocks. For example, theRSs may be present in all numerology blocks and in all subframes. Inanother example, the RSs may be present in all numerology blocks butonly in subframes with scheduling opportunities. In another example, theRSs may be present only in numerology blocks and/or subframes where acontrol channel region has been configured.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, a WTRU may transmitor receive data on multiple numerology blocks. A WTRU may be configuredto transmit (or receive) signals according to more than one numerologyat a given time, in the same or different carrier. This type ofoperation may be beneficial to support multiple use cases for a WTRUand/or may enable a WTRU to access the full frequency resources of acarrier configured with multiple numerology blocks.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example embodiment for the reception of signalsaccording to more than one numerology. The received signal 601 may becomposed of signals structured according to more than one numerology indifferent frequency blocks. For example, the sub-carrier spacing of afirst and second signal components may be S₁ and S₂, respectively. Thefirst signal component may occupy a frequency block of bandwidthW₁=K₁×S₁ at the upper frequency range of the carrier, where K₁ is thenumber of sub-carriers used by the first signal component. The secondsignal component may occupy a frequency block of bandwidth W₂=(C₂−K₂)×S₂at the lower frequency range of the carrier, where K2 is the number ofsub-carriers used by the second signal component and C₂ is the carrierbandwidth expressed in units of S₂. The first and second signalcomponents may occupy non-overlapping frequencies.

After sampling at rate Ts at 602, the samples r_(n) may be processed byparallel chains. The parallel chains start with elements Z^(−d1) 603 aand Z^(−d2) 603 b that may add delays (e.g., d1 or d2) in an examplewhere the symbols of different numerology do not start at the same time;in other examples the delays may not be used. In each chain a cyclicprefix (CP) (if applicable) may be removed prior to DFT processing atCP1 604 a and CP2 604 b, where CP1 and CP2 are the respective cyclicdurations. CP may be removed such that the DFT operation occurs every(N1×Ts+CP1) and every (N2×Ts+CP2) for the first and second chainrespectively. At 605 a and 605 b serial to parallel processing may occurto enable inputting the time samples as a group into the DFT. Each chainmay execute a DFT operation with different sizes and different rates atDFT 606 a for the first chain and DFT 606 b for the second chain. TheDFT sizes of the first and second chain are: N1=1/(Ts×S₁) andN2=1/(Ts×S₂) respectively. Following DFT processing, samples 608 that donot correspond to sub-carriers where a signal was present according tothe corresponding numerology may be discarded. The samples that docorrespond to a subcarrier where a signal was present according to thecorresponding numerology may go through parallel to serial processing607 a and 607 b where the DFT produces a group of elements that may thenbe placed in a serial manner to enable further processing of the data609 a and 609 b for their ultimate destination.

FIG. 6B shows an example embodiment for the transmission of signalsaccording to more than one numerology. Similarly to the receptionexample, the transmitted signal may be composed of signals structuredaccording to more than one numerology in different frequency blocks. Theprocessing steps correspond to the processing steps at the receivingside, in reverse order. There may be data 619 a and 619 b from a sourcethat is processed in parallel chains. The data may undergo serial toparallel processing at 617 a and 617 b. For each numerology, an inverseDFT (IDFT) 616 a and 616 b operation may be performed on signalscorresponding to each sub-carrier, and values zero (0) 618 may beinserted for sub-carrier positions for which the signal of thecorresponding numerology is not present. The signals then undergoparallel to serial processing at 615 a and 615 b. Following insertion ofcyclic prefix at 614 a and 614 b the samples from each chain may processa delay at elements Z^(−t1) 613 a and Z^(−t2) 613 b (i.e., similar to603 a and 603 b discussed herein). At 612 the samples are summed priorto digital-to-analog conversion at 611, at which point they may betransmitted at 610.

The order of operations shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B are examples and may bereordered, removed, or added to as necessary. For example, windowing(i.e. multiplication of samples by a time-varying factor) may beprocessed prior to CP removal to enhance spectral isolation betweensignals during the receiving operation. In another example, windowingmay also be processed at the transmitter side prior to summation.

A WTRU may be scheduled to receive or transmit data on resources withina numerology block. The control channel scheduling resources fortransmission may be in the same numerology block as the datatransmissions or in another numerology block.

A WTRU may be scheduled with transmissions spanning multiple numerologyblocks with a single control channel transmissions. In one embodiment,the WTRU may receive or transmit at least one transport block (TB) pernumerology block. In this embodiment, a WTRU may be scheduled withmultiple transport blocks to enable transmission or reception of data onthe entire carrier bandwidth.

A WTRU may receive or transmit at least one transport block per set ofnumerology blocks. For example, a transport block may span multiplenumerology blocks if they share the same sets of numerology parameters.A transport block may span multiple contiguous or non-contiguousnumerology blocks. The RE mapping of the transport block spanningmultiple non-contiguous numerology blocks may be done in a virtualmanner before transposing it to the actual physical resources.

A WTRU may receive or transmit at least one transport spanning multiplenumerology blocks. For example, a transport block may span multiplenumerology blocks regardless of whether a set of numerology parametersare the same for each numerology block. In a specific example, a systemhas a carrier support a first service (e.g., eMBB) with a firstnumerology block and a second service (e.g., URLLC) with a secondnumerology having different numerology parameters; in this case, thecarrier may reconfigure at least one numerology block to harmonize theparameters before scheduling a WTRU. Alternatively, the numerologyparameters may be maintained differently for different blocks. In oneembodiment, better inter-cell interference coordination may be enabledby the WTRU receiving or transmitting at least one transport spanningmultiple blocks.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, there may be controlinformation relating to frequency allocation for WTRU data transmission.Data transmissions may be scheduled by control channels located in atleast one numerology block. The control information for data transmittedon one or more numerology blocks may include a frequency allocation. Thefrequency allocation may indicate the actual set of subcarriers in whichthe data may be transmitted or received by the WTRU. The subcarriers maybe numbered in a sequential manner depending on the numerology blockconfiguration. For example, if a first numerology block has an SCS thatleads to having n subcarriers, its subcarriers may be labeled 0 to n.The second numerology block (where numerology blocks are numbered fromlowest frequency to highest) may have m subcarriers, and its subcarriersmay be labeled n+1 to n+m−1, and so on. In another example, thesubcarriers may be labeled in a manner that is independent of the numberof subcarriers in other numerology blocks. For example, the nsubcarriers of numerology block N may be labeled N.i where 0≤i<n. Theabove may also be applicable to the case where resource blocks are usedinstead of subcarriers in the allocation.

In another embodiment, the frequency allocation may indicate a set offrequencies (or a frequency range) over which the data may betransmitted or received by the WTRU. Based on the set of frequencies andthe numerology block configuration, the WTRU may determine the totalnumber of resource elements (RE).

In another embodiment, a frequency allocation may be expressed in termsof a set of numerology-independent resource blocks, where a resourceblock may be defined in terms of a fixed bandwidth independent of thesubcarrier spacing. Thus the number of subcarriers in a resource blockdefined in this manner depends on the subcarrier spacing. For example, aresource block of 180 kHz may be defined as 12 sub-carriers or 6sub-carriers depending on whether the sub-carrier spacing is 15 kHz or30 kHz, respectively. Such an embodiment may enable the indication of afrequency allocation independent of the subcarrier spacing used in eachnumerology block.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, there may be controlinformation relating to frequency allocation for WTRU data transmission,where the data channel reception/transmission is adaptable. A WTRU maybe configured with a subset (of the entire carrier) of frequencyresources on which it may transmit or receive data. Such a configurationmay be required to enable efficient frequency allocation. For example, aWTRU may be configured with a subset of numerology blocks or with asubset of resources within a numerology block.

In one embodiment, a WTRU may be configured with an operating bandwidthB1 on carrier C (whose overall bandwidth is B>B1). At some time, theWTRU may be reconfigured by the network to change its operatingbandwidth from B1 to B2 (B1<B2<B) to enable the WTRU to be scheduledwith a larger amount of resources. In another example, a WTRU may beconfigured to operate with a first subset of numerology blocks and atsome time may be configured to change to a second subset of numerologyblocks: such reconfiguration may comprise the addition of resourceblocks, subcarriers, or numerology blocks to the overall bandwidth whichthe WTRU may schedule for data or may utilize for UL transmission.

A WTRU configured with a smaller bandwidth may configure its reception,data processing, measurements, etc. such that it is limited to thatsegment. A WTRU may use a front-end, FFT/IFFT, or baseband processingthat is limited to the segment that was configured by the network. Forexample, a WTRU configured with bandwidth B1 may utilize FFT size F1 toreceive the data channel. When configured with bandwidth B2>B1, the WTRUmay utilize FFT size F2>F1 to receive the data channel. Suchconfiguration may result in power savings advantages when the WTRU'sload requirements are not sufficient to warrant that its receivingcircuitry/HW/SW operates over the entire bandwidth of a given carrier.

Bandwidths or segments (including resource blocks and theirconfigurations) may be predefined by standardization, or based on systeminformation broadcast by the cell. A WTRU may receive a set of indices,each corresponding to one of the segments or numerology blocks that maybe utilized as the configured WTRU-specific bandwidth for a given time.

Adaptable data bandwidth may enable the frequency allocation in ascheduling assignment or grant to have greater granularity withoutrequiring larger payload. In these examples, the interpretation by theWTRU of the frequency allocation included in control information forscheduling may be dependent on the configured frequency resources. Forexample, if a WTRU is configured with a first set of frequencyresources, the frequency allocation in a scheduling assignment or grantmay indicate granularity on the level of subcarriers or groups ofsubcarriers. Alternatively, if a WTRU is configured with a second largerset of frequency resources, with multiple numerology blocks for example,the frequency allocation in a scheduling assignment or grant mayindicate a granularity of resource blocks or groups of resource blocks.

A WTRU may perform scaling of resource-related information in the DCImessage based on the configured data channel bandwidth. Such scaling mayenable the same type of DCI messages to be utilized, regardless of theadaptive data channel bandwidth currently configured for the WTRU, whilestill allowing the scheduler to address all resources with sufficientgranularity. The WTRU may apply scaling on the following quantitieswithin the DCI: resource block index (e.g. starting index for a resourceallocation); length or number of resource blocks; and/or bitmap ofallocated resource blocks.

For example, a WTRU may interpret the length field in a DCI messageallocating a number of contiguous resource blocks depending on theconfigured data bandwidth. A WTRU may receive a length N for theresource allocation while having B1, and decode data on N resourceblocks. When configured with bandwidth B2>B1, the WTRU may decode x*Nresource blocks (where x>1).

The WTRU may be reconfigured to change the bandwidth and/or location ofthe activated data channel on the carrier by the network.

A WTRU may change the adaptable data channel bandwidth in order to savepower. Changes in the adaptable data channel may be based on semi-staticbandwidth change signaling, dynamic signaling of data bandwidth,periodic determination of bandwidth, and/or automatic fallback to lowerbandwidth, all of which are discussed herein.

For semi-static bandwidth change signaling, a WTRU may receive a messagefrom the network (RRC signaling, medium access control (MAC) CE, orphysical layer (PHY)) to indicate a change in the configured datachannel bandwidth. For example, the WTRU may be configured toincrease/decrease the data bandwidth using such signaling, possibly as aresult of the introduction/removal of a service and/or the determinationby the network of the need for a larger/smaller amount of resources.

For dynamic signaling of data bandwidth, the data bandwidth to beutilized may be signaled through the presence/absence and/or positioningof reference signals. A WTRU may detect a change in the configuredbandwidth based on a change in the positioning of reference signals. Forinstance, a change in the positioning of reference signals over B1 mayindicate to the WTRU that the configured bandwidth has changed to B2.

For periodic determination of bandwidth a WTRU may be required toperiodically determine the data channel bandwidth used for a period oftime by reading of system information from the network or byperiodically transmitted group-specific (re)configuration. The WTRU mayoperate on the cell bandwidth or set of numerology blocks broadcast bythe cell for a specific period of time until the next expected broadcastof the cell bandwidth or set of numerology blocks by the network.

Where automatic fallback to lower bandwidth occurs a WTRU, following useof a larger bandwidth (B2>B1), may automatically fall back to using alower bandwidth (B1). Such fallback may occur potentially under at leastone of the following conditions: following a specific amount of timewithout having received a message from the network to increase, change,or maintain the larger bandwidth; upon the detection of the absence ofreference signals in the additional portions of the segment or bandwidthassociated with the extension (i.e. B2−B1) where such absence may bedetermined by the WTRU if the reference signal power associated with theextension is below a configured threshold; and/or following a specificamount of time without having received any scheduling from the network(DL or UL) or following a period of time where the number of grantsreceived by the network is below a configured threshold.

Upon falling back to a lower operating bandwidth (or to a fallback setof numerology blocks), the WTRU may begin monitoring a fallback controlchannel region. Such a fallback control channel region may be theregular control channel region associated with the set of numerologyblocks intended for fallback operation. Such a fallback control channelregion may be a first control channel as explained in the hierarchicalcontrol channel embodiment presented herein. In another embodiment, theWTRU may fall back to monitoring the control channel region that may beused to reconfigure the numerology blocks.

A WTRU may change its data channel bandwidth within a single TTI, suchthat the configured data bandwidth for the WTRU, and correspondingly theFFT/baseband processing performed by the WTRU, may differ for one set ofsymbols in a TTI compared to a different set of symbols for the sameTTI. For instance, a WTRU operating with a configured data bandwidthB2>B1 may assume that for the first x symbols, the WTRU operates usingdata bandwidth B1, while for the remaining symbols of the TTI, the WTRUoperates using data bandwidth B2.

A WTRU may further operate using adaptation within a TTI depending onits variable data channel configuration. For example, a WTRU may assumethat for certain configurations (e.g. WTRU is configured with bandwidthB1), the WTRU may always employ bandwidth B1, while for otherconfigurations (e.g. WTRU is configured with bandwidth B2>B1) the WTRUmay employ bandwidth B1 for the beginning of the TTI and bandwidth B2for the end of the TTI.

A WTRU may be scheduled with a variable or adaptive data channel byhaving the WTRU receive data over a first set of resource blocks in aninitial assignment, and have additional or extension resources providedto the WTRU either simultaneously or with a predefined offset. A WTRUmay then receive supplemental control information relating to itsresource assignment within one of the resource blocks or set of resourceelements or set of numerology blocks assigned to it for data. Thesupplemental control information may provide the resources (e.g.,resource blocks) or usage of the resources (e.g., modulation and codingschemes (MCS)) to be used by the WTRU in the extension resources. TheWTRU may expect the supplemental control information to be present undercertain data channel configurations or bandwidths and it may bedetermined in: an encoded control frame located in a defined orsemi-statically configured set of resources within the initialassignment to the WTRU; and/or a MAC CE transmitted in the resourceswithin the initial assignment to the WTRU.

In one example embodiment, a WTRU may be configured to operate using adata channel which may be 5 MHz, 10 MHz, or 20 MHz. Operation under 10MHz or 20 MHz may be considered operation under extension resources.When operating with a data channel of 20 MHz, the WTRU may receive aresource grant which indicates the specific resource blocks allocatedwithin the initial 5 MHz bandwidth. The WTRU, operating using extensionresources, may determine the additional resources allocated to it in theextension band by decoding a WTRU dedicated control message locatedwithin the WTRU dedicated resources assigned over the initial 5 MHz. TheWTRU may further assume a time offset between the base 5 MHz, and theextension (additional 15 MHz) data resources to allow decoding of thesupplemental control information, or it may assume data channeladaptation can occur within a TTI, as defined earlier.

Data may be mapped to REs in virtual resource blocks (VRBs), and topossibly combat frequency selectivity, wherein such VRBs may be mappedto non-adjacent PRBs. The mapping of VRB-to-PRB may be indicated in aDCI scheduling the transmission, possibly using a bitmap for all PRBs oran input to a pre-configured mapping function. In some cases, a WTRU ora TRP may not transmit on a set of numerology blocks deemed blanked orunused resources. The VRB-to-PRB mapping may depend on what blocks maybe used for transmission. In one scenario, the VRB-to-PRB mapping may beexplicitly indicated to a WTRU in a control channel transmission (e.g.in a DCI). In another scenario, the VRB-to-PRB mapping may be achievedby a block based interleaver and/or a splitting of resource block pairsby a certain frequency gap. For the case of block based interleaver, theinterleaving function may be done only on PRBs of numerology blocks forwhich a WTRU is configured to operate on. For example, the PRBsconfigured to a WTRU may be consecutively indexed, and such indexing mayskip over bandwidth portions of a carrier that are not configured forthe WTRU (e.g. blanked or unused resources). For the case of resourceblock pair splitting, the gap may be counted only on PRBs of numerologyblocks for which a WTRU is configured to operate on, in a similar manneras described above for interleaving.

In some cases, the VRB-to-PRB mapping may be defined in such a way thatis independent of whether one or more frequency regions is unused. Forexample: the VRB-to-PRB mapping may take into account unused numerologyblocks; the interleaving may always ensure that no VRB is mapped to aPRB of a numerology block that should not be used; and/or the totalbandwidth may be split into PRBs, and such PRBs may be indexed in someorder (e.g. from lowest frequency to highest). The WTRU may understandthe VRB to PRB mapping rules to take into account all PRBs includingthose in regions where it may not expect data transmissions (e.g.regions where it has not been configured a numerology block). In such acase, the WTRU may need to know the numerology of the unused numerologyblocks, possibly to determine the appropriate number of unused PRBs inthe unused numerology block (i.e. if PRB size is dependent on thenumerology, such as if it is a fixed number of subcarrier). A WTRU maybe configured with numerology parameters for unused numerology blocks.Such configuration may indicate to a WTRU the numerology parameters toassume for a block, possibly along with an indication that such a blockmay not be used for data transmission in UL, DL, or SL.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, data may be mappedto resource elements of multiple numerology blocks, each with differentnumerology parameters. FIG. 7 shows an example of RE mapping overmultiple numerology blocks using frequency 702 first then time 701:mapping per numerology block 703 a; incrementing by smallest symbol time703 b; incrementing by symbol time of each numerology block 703 c;and/or incrementing by largest symbol time 703 c. The groupings 704 a,704 b, and 704 c represent example frequency ranges.

A transport block may be transmitted on a single numerology block ormultiple numerology blocks, the resource element (RE) mapping may bedone in frequency (i.e. over the subcarriers) first and then in time(i.e. over the symbols); or vice-versa.

Alternatively, a transport block may span multiple numerology blocks,with different sets of numerology parameters, where the RE mapping maybe pre-determined, indicated in the control information scheduling thetransmission, or indicated in a configuration of the numerology blocks.

In an embodiment the RE mapping may be done per numerology block;whereby the mapping is done within a numerology block following mappingrules discussed for a single numerology block. The order of thenumerology blocks for the RE mapping may be done sequentially overfrequency or time.

In an embodiment relating to the example of FIG. 7 part 703 b, the REmapping may be done over all the numerology blocks. For example, the REmapping may be done over the subcarriers first. The symbol boundary ofthe smallest symbol may be used and the mapping may begin at the firstsymbol boundary over all subcarriers that have a boundary at that time.Next, the mapping may continue to the second smallest symbol boundary,and it may be done over all subcarriers that have a boundary at thattime. A similar embodiment may use time first and the subcarrierboundaries of the smallest subcarrier.

In an embodiment relating to the example of FIG. 7 part 703 c, the REmapping may be done over all the numerology blocks in frequency (ortime) first and then in time (or frequency). In this example, the timeis incremented by largest symbol size. For numerology blocks withsmaller symbol time, the RE mapping is done over that numerology block'sfrequency range and shifted in time until the end of the larger symboltime.

In an embodiment relating to the example of FIG. 7 part 703 d, the REmapping may be done in frequency first but using time boundaries definedby a symbol size other than the smallest. The appropriate symbol sizeboundary may be indicated in the control information or may depend on aparameter of the control channel used to transmit the controlinformation (e.g. the control channel region, or the numerology of thecontrol channel region). In this example, some REs in some numerologiesmay remain unused.

In the time domain, the data may be mapped to non-adjacent symbols. Forexample, RE mapping may use time interleaving, possibly to randomize theeffect of per-symbol interference changes. In another example, the datamapping may skip over some symbols. For example, the RE mapping may bedone over all subcarriers of a first set of symbols, then skip over asecond set of symbols and continue over a third set of symbols. Such aninterruption need not signal the transmission of different transportblocks. The interruption timing and size may be indicated in a controlchannel transmission providing scheduling information.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, the numerology usedfor a WTRU transmission may be selected by the WTRU. For example, a WTRUmay be configured with a set of numerology blocks with specific sets ofnumerology parameters. However, the WTRU may have a need for agrant-free transmission that uses a different set of numerologyparameters. In another example, the WTRU may be configured withappropriate numerology blocks, however, it may require a largerbandwidth using that numerology for its transmission.

The WTRU selected sets of numerology parameters may depend on apre-configuration where the network indicates to the WTRU what sets ofnumerology parameters are applicable. This configuration may be donejointly with the numerology block configuration.

In another embodiment, a WTRU may follow some pre-determined rules forapplicable WTRU selected sets of numerology parameters. For example, theWTRU may only select numerology parameters that scale in a way with thenumerology in the colliding numerology blocks. For example, the WTRU mayonly select numerologies whose symbol duration or subcarrier spacing areinteger multiples (or divisors) of the symbol duration or subcarrierspacing of the colliding numerology block. In yet another embodiment,only parameters that won't create new inter-/intra-numerology blockinterference may be altered. For example, a WTRU may select a differentsubframe length but should maintain subcarrier orthogonality by notchanging subcarrier spacing.

In a method and system for flexible resource usage, resource elementsare mapped with reference signals to address when transmissions withdifferent numerologies (to or from different TRPs) may collide.Different TRPs or WTRUs may be configured with different numerologyblock configurations for a carrier. For example, a first TRP may have afirst set of numerology block boundaries and numerology block sets ofparameters, and a second TRP may have a second set of numerology blockboundaries and numerology block sets of parameters. It may be desirablefor RSs using different sets of numerology parameters on the samesubbands of a carrier to have dependent characteristics. For example,for proper interference management, orthogonal cover coding (OCC) may beused when RSs overlap in time and frequency. In another example, it maybe beneficial for a WTRU to be able to measure RSs from different TRPsnot using the same numerology parameters in a subband. However, thesetwo cases may be difficult to achieve if the RSs don't share the samenumerology parameters.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the reception of an RS in time or frequencyfor orthogonalization of RS from different TRPs. The time or symbollength is indicated in the horizontal axis 801, and the frequency isindicated in the vertical axis 802. RS mapping may be done in a mannerto make different numerologies have similar RS overhead. For example,there may be a first RS 800 a transmission from a first TRP (or intendedfor a first TRP) on a portion of a carrier using a first symbol length803, along with a second RS 800 b transmission from a second TRP (orintended for a second TRP) on the same portion of the carrier using asecond symbol length 804. Assuming the first symbol length 803 is aninteger divisible into the second symbol length 804, then an RStransmitted (or received) using the first symbol length should berepeated in time to match the second symbol length. For example, “a”having a first symbol length 803 may overlap in time with two “c” havinga second symbol length 804 which is half the length of the first symbollength 803. A similar embodiment may be used for integer scalablesubcarrier size using repetition in frequency. A combination of time andfrequency repetition may be used; for example, an RS transmitted usingthe first numerology of 800 b (with small symbol time and large SCS) mayuse repetition in time while an RS transmitted using the secondnumerology 800 a (with large symbol time and small SCS) may userepetition in frequency.

In another embodiment, all RSs in colliding subbands (e.g. fromdifferent TRPs or WTRUs) may use the same set of numerology parameters.In this case, the RS numerology configuration may be independent of thenumerology block configuration. For example, the RS transmission mayoccupy a block of time frequency resources. The modulation may be doneusing IFFT with subcarrier spacing matching the smallest subcarrierspacing between the colliding numerology blocks. Furthermore, thesampling may be done assuming the smallest symbol time between thecolliding numerology blocks.

In another embodiment, blanking may be used to ensure orthogonalitybetween RSs of different numerologies using the same time-frequencyresources. For example, an RS transmitted using a first numerology withsmall subcarrier spacing may require that transmissions using a secondnumerology with larger subcarrier spacing blank multiple symbols for thecolliding subcarrier(s). Similarly, an RS transmitted using a firstnumerology with large subcarrier spacing may require that transmissionsusing a second numerology with smaller subcarrier spacing blank multiplesubcarriers for the colliding symbol(s).

Although features and elements are described above in particularcombinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that eachfeature or element can be used alone or in any combination with theother features and elements. In addition, the methods described hereinmay be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronicsignals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) andcomputer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storagemedia include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductormemory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removabledisks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks,and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association withsoftware may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for usein a WTRU, WTRU, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

1.-18. (canceled)
 19. A method for a wireless transmit/receive unit(WTRU), the method comprising: receiving a transmission including atleast a synchronization signal, the received transmission having asubset of potential subcarrier spacings based on a frequency region ofthe received transmission; and based on the received transmission,determining frequency resources and subcarrier spacing for use inacquiring a system information block (SIB); and monitoring thedetermined frequency resources associated with acquiring the SIB attimes based on the received transmission.
 20. The method of claim 19wherein based on the received transmission, determining frequencyresources and subcarrier spacing for use in receiving a control channeltransmission.
 21. The method of claim 19 wherein a master informationblock has a same subcarrier spacing as the synchronization signal. 22.The method of claim 19 wherein the synchronization signal includes aprimary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal.23. The method of claim 19 wherein blind detection is used to detect thesynchronization signal using specific sets of resources.
 24. The methodof claim 19 further comprising receiving using radio resource controlsignaling information related to boundaries between different subcarrierspacings.
 25. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: areceiver and a processor configured to receive a transmission includingat least a synchronization signal, the received transmission having asubset of potential subcarrier spacings based on a frequency region ofthe received block; and the processor configured, based on the receivedtransmission, to determine frequency resources and subcarrier spacingfor use in acquiring a system information block (SIB); and the receiverand the processor are configured to monitor the determined frequencyresources associated with acquiring the SIB at times based on thereceived transmission.
 26. The WTRU of claim 25 wherein the receiver andthe processor are configured, based on the received transmission, todetermine frequency resources and subcarrier spacing for use inreceiving a control channel transmission.
 27. The WTRU of claim 25wherein a master information block has a same subcarrier spacing as thesynchronization signal.
 28. The WTRU of claim 25 wherein thesynchronization signal includes a primary synchronization signal and asecondary synchronization signal.
 29. The WTRU of claim 25 wherein thereceiver and the processor use blind detection to detect thesynchronization signal using specific sets of resources.
 30. The WTRU ofclaim 25 wherein the receiver and the processor are configured toreceive using radio resource control signaling information related toboundaries between different subcarrier spacings.
 31. A base stationcomprising: a transmitter and a processor configured to transmit atransmission including at least a synchronization signal, thetransmission having subcarrier spacing selected from a subset ofpotential subcarrier spacings based on a frequency region of thetransmission, wherein a master information block has a same subcarrierspacing as the synchronization signal; and the transmitter and theprocessor configured to transmit a control channel, wherein thefrequency resources and subcarrier spacing for the control channel aredeterminable from the transmission.
 32. The base station of claim 31wherein the synchronization signal includes a primary synchronizationsignal and a secondary synchronization signal.
 33. The base station ofclaim 31 wherein the transmitter and the processor are configured totransmit using radio resource control signaling information related toboundaries between different subcarrier spacings used by the basestation.